Apple CEO Tim Cook makes second trip to China in 10 months

In his second visit to China in 10 months, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook met with the country's head of industry and information technology to discuss the tech industry.

Cook's visit with Miao Wei of the Chinese government was revealed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according toBloomberg. The two reportedly discussed Apple's business in China and the global communications market.

Cook was previously in China last March, when he visited a Foxconn factory that assembles iPhones. On that trip, he also met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang to discuss intellectual property issues, as well as potential cooperation with the Chinese government.

Last year, Cook's visit to China came as Apple was under fire for working conditions in its suppliers' factories. Critics contended that companies like Foxconn had employees work long overtime hours for inadequate pay.

In the last 10 months since Cook's previous visit to China, the conversation has changed considerably. Apple now offers monthly updates from audits of its suppliers, the company has pledged $100 million to produce an entire line of Macs in the U.S., and there has even been speculation that Apple has subsidized wage increases for workers at Foxconn.

Foxconn has faced criticism for years, as some have referred to the electronics maker as a "sweatshop" where employees work long hours for little pay. The company has worked to improve its image, and Apple has encouraged those changes with a series of audits, including new independent reviews from the Fair Labor Association.

Since Cook's previous visit last March, Apple has also nearly doubled its retail presence in China. When Cook last went to China, Apple had just six stores in the country, or one location per 216 million Chinese people. In comparison. the state of Pennsylvania has a total of eight stores for a population of 12.7 million people

Since then, new stores have opened in five more locations, including Chengdu and Hong Kong's Hysan Place and Festival Bay. There are now 11 Apple Stores in Greater China.

So the author of this piece, as well as others, continues to this day to imply that ONLY Apple has the Chinese labor problem. Only Foxconn factories that make Apple products are under scrutiny and their other factories are shining examples of fair labor practices. Meanwhile all the other American companies that manufacture in China get passes as well the Korean Samsung.

I almost wish Apple would stop being the most valuable company, the most sought after products, so it could fly under the radar like the others.